Investment outlook for your 2019 portfolio

While it’s late in the game, the economic expansion should have stamina. A constructive—yet vigilant—approach to financial markets is warranted.

The global and U.S. economic expansions are now in their later stages. While GDP growth seems likely to slow for a
number of major economies including the “big 3”—the U.S., Europe, and China—the underlying
strength of the U.S. makes it possible this already very extended stretch of growth could last longer than one
might think. Central banks will play key roles in determining just how long the expansion plays out. This late
cycle stage does not call for dramatic portfolio changes just yet, in our view, but we are moderately trimming
equity exposure and shifting toward value areas of the market, while also dialing back credit risk in fixed income.
Following are our thoughts about portfolio positioning for 2019.

RBC’s annual GDP growth forecasts for developed markets

2018

2019

Source - RBC Global Asset Management

Fixed income

Central banks may diverge as they adjust policies to varying stages of economic activity. We foresee continued
growth in developed economies, and inflation holding near targets. This will allow gradual policy adjustments to
continue, but the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada may approach their “neutral rate” targets
just as the European Central Bank (ECB) begins raising rates later in 2019. Credit will continue to provide
selective opportunities, but “late cycle” signs warrant attention to quality and portfolio positioning.

United States

The Fed is forecasting three rate hikes in 2019. We see the Fed pausing after two hikes when short-term interest
rates reach their “neutral rate” target of roughly three percent. Wildcards could be inflation and
trade developments.

The burst of GDP growth in H2 2018 will, in our opinion, give way to slower momentum as the impact from fiscal
stimulus wanes. But even if growth pulls back to 2.5 percent–3.0 percent, recession risks would remain low.

10Y Treasury yields are in a 3.10 percent–3.40 percent range and we maintain that 3.50 percent is likely the
speed limit for the 10-year in this economic cycle. Yield curves should remain flat, but not invert, in 2019 as the
Fed moves toward pausing.

Credit spreads will remain subject to equity market volatility. Until five-year average spreads of 125 basis points
for IG and 435 basis points for HY are exceeded, we will hold our modest Overweight on IG and Underweight on HY. We
recommend preferreds for attractive returns and maintain our bias for 15–20 year higher-coupon munis.

Canada

Christopher Girdler, Toronto

The Canadian economy is widely expected to grow at or slightly above its potential in 2019. With core inflation
already near the Bank of Canada’s two percent target, the removal of monetary stimulus should continue.

The Bank of Canada recently signaled there will be more hikes beyond 2019 than the market is currently pricing in.
If this becomes the likely outcome, we believe yields would be set to rise across the yield curve. We are more
comfortable buying short to intermediate maturities that offer lower expected volatility of returns, good
liquidity, and an opportunity to reinvest at more attractive rates if the central bank follows through.

Our Canadian credit outlook is mixed. Corporate bond valuations have improved somewhat after reaching the most
expensive levels in a decade, but this hasn’t changed our view. We continue to recommend upgrading credit
quality and liquidity within portfolios. Preferred shares suffered bouts of volatility this year, and with much
more reasonable valuations we view any weakness as a buying opportunity.

Europe/United Kingdom

As the ECB comes to the end of its purchase programme, further signs of moderating GDP could unsettle markets in
2019, although ECB President Mario Draghi is unlikely to delay the withdrawal of monetary accommodation. For now,
despite a QE slowdown, we see the ECB’s stock of holdings and planned reinvestment strategy continuing to
support yields and credit spreads.

For the UK, rate hike expectations have shifted forward slightly given the possibility of PM Theresa May’s
government reaching an agreement with EU leaders. We doubt the path of future interest rate hikes will change much,
given estimates of weaker GDP appearing by the end of 2018 or in early 2019. Another notable risk that may
materialise after March 2019 is the potential for a leadership challenge within the Conservative party and a
general election. This could weigh on UK fixed income; Consumer Cyclicals and Financials would be most at
risk.

Asia

Chun-Him Tam, Singapore

China represents half of the USD-denominated Asian credit market. In our view, fundamentals and market sentiment in
China are two of three key drivers of Asian bonds. The third is the Fed’s interest rate policy.

Onshore funding liquidity in China is tight and issuers struggle to refinance their debt as the government treads
along its deleveraging path. The significant market correction in 2018 has opened up selective investment
opportunities, but overall we remain cautious and prefer to see a stabilization of liquidity and market confidence
before turning risk-on.

We are also cautious on Indonesia and India. Both run current account and fiscal deficits, and are more exposed to
the Fed’s rate hike cycle and a stronger U.S. dollar. We don’t expect a turnaround at least until their
elections are held in the first half of 2019.

We advise sticking to quality and are Overweight defensive countries like Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Equity

The corrections in 2018 exposed stresses in the global equity market but also reset valuations to more reasonable
levels. We think the market has the capacity to absorb economic cooling, ongoing tariff risks, and monetary
tightening, albeit with volatility. Our constructive view hinges on low recession risks for major economies,
particularly the U.S., and the likelihood corporate earnings growth will persist. But 2019 returns could be modest
and delivered unevenly; therefore, it is appropriate to trim equity exposure to a Market Weight level in global
portfolios from a slight Overweight position.

Two factors that influence U.S. stock prices the most over time—economic and earnings growth—will likely
be firm enough to push the market at least modestly higher in 2019. We think the economy has the potential to grow
above the 2.3 percent average rate. All of our forward-looking indicators are signaling the expansion will persist
for the next 12 months or beyond.

Earnings growth is set to slow in 2019 because the boost from tax cuts will fall out of the data, and year-over-year
comparisons to 2018’s white-hot growth rates will be challenging to jump over. Furthermore, higher input
prices due to tariffs, wage growth, and a strong dollar could constrain profit margins. Even with these challenges,
we think S&P 500 earnings can grow in the mid-to-high single digits due to strength in the economy.

A market shift toward value stocks and away from growth stocks seems likely, in our view. Value tends to outperform
when the 10-year Treasury yield rises, inflation expectations move higher, and GDP growth strengthens, as well as
during the latter stage of a bull market cycle.

Canada

Market Weight

Patrick McAllister, Toronto

Forward P/E

10-yr Avg.

S&P/TSX

13.2

14.6

We recommend a Market Weight allocation to Canadian equities. Valuations remain discounted relative to the U.S.,
which we believe provides appropriate compensation for domestic-specific challenges, namely, the impact of higher
interest rates on highly leveraged consumers and the housing market, a lack of adequate oil pipeline capacity, and
waning economic competitiveness.

Resolution of free trade negotiations with the U.S. and Mexico appears poised to reduce uncertainty and potential
downside risk to the domestic economy. However, the agreed accord must now be passed into law by the three
signatories, which cannot be taken for granted in this contentious political climate.

Our outlook for key sectors remains somewhat subdued. Bank valuations have improved on an absolute basis but remain
in-line relative to the broader Canadian market and U.S. banks. We remain comfortable with a modest underweight in
Canadian banks given our expectation for slowing earnings growth. The outlook for Energy is dimmed by pipeline
constraints and an increasingly self-sufficient U.S. oil market.

European equities should continue to be supported by modestly improving fundamentals, including cyclical low
unemployment as well as stronger capital investment and lending environments, while a weak currency should underpin
the export sector. Uncertainty regarding the Italian budget is likely to linger, perhaps until the European
Parliament elections in May as we suspect European politicians would prefer to avoid conflict before then. Equity
valuations are not demanding, trading back in line with long term averages and the steep discount to U.S.
valuations remains. We favour the Health Care and Industrials sectors, which benefit from structural trends such as
infrastructure spend and digitalization.

The fortunes of UK equities will be influenced by the Brexit negotiations’ outcome. Should the UK secure a
deal with a transition period ensuring the status quo—our base case scenario—we would expect domestic
stocks to enjoy a relief rally. An upward rerating is likely given a 2019 P/E ratio of 11.7x and a dividend yield
of some 4.5 percent. Should negotiations fail, and the UK leave the EU without such a transition, the currency
would likely weaken, though the usual inverse relationship with equities could well break. After all, exporters
would have lost tariff-free access to one of their largest markets. Our preferred sectors remain Energy and Life
Insurance where cash flows are improving and valuations are attractive.

Asia excluding Japan/Japan

Market Weight/Overweight

Jay Roberts, Hong Kong

Forward P/E

10-yr Avg.

Hang Seng

10.0

11.3

Shanghai Comp

9.8

12.0

TOPIX

12.2

14.7

Asian equities had a tough year in 2018 after a very good year in 2017. Most of the weakness came from markets in
North Asia, especially China.

In 2019, we expect that the trade dispute, which in reality encompasses much more than simply trade, may deepen, or
at least continue, and will set the narrative for Asian markets. However, we expect China to roll out policies to
support its markets and economy, both of which have been impacted by the dispute and by China’s worthy
attempts to rein in riskier areas of credit growth. Even though Chinese stocks have declined considerably, we
maintain a neutral stance on the equity market given ongoing risks such as U.S. policy, a slowing economy and
concerns about the currency. Different to Japan, a weaker Chinese currency is not perceived favourably by
investors.

We recently moved Japanese equities to an Overweight position. The valuation discount of Japanese stocks relative to
global peers is attractive. Economic and earnings trends are generally supportive. We forecast the currency to
weaken, aiding stocks. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abe won his party’s leadership election in September. We
expect the Bank of Japan to maintain its highly accommodative interest rate policy. Risks include a strong currency
and the impact of the VAT increases slated for later in 2019.

Currencies

United States dollar – Still see scope for strength

Rising U.S. yields on the back of monetary tightening was a predominant driver of U.S. dollar outperformance in 2018
while a dampening of risk appetite due to a ratcheting-up of U.S.-China trade tensions provided further support.
Looking to 2019, supportive factors for sustained dollar strength through the early part of the year remain intact,
in our view. Robust economic growth against a tight labour market point to the need for further rate increases by
the Federal Reserve. The resultant attractiveness of the U.S. dollar could fade later in 2019, however, when other
countries’ central banks look poised to withdraw accommodative policy stimulus.

Euro – Low for longer

Eroding risk appetite in the wake of 2018 political developments appears likely to fade; however, pressure on the
euro could persist in 2019, in our view. Signs of softer growth in the region due to rising protectionism alongside
subdued core inflation suggest the European Central Bank is unlikely to be in a position to alter its current
policy stance until later in 2019. As such, with policy rates likely to remain unchanged until Q3 2019, the
widening rate differential favouring the U.S. dollar points to euro weakness persisting.

Canada dollar – More hikes in the pipeline

Diminished trade uncertainty in the wake of the USMCA agreement alongside an economy expanding above potential
should tee up for the Bank of Canada to raise policy rates twice more in early 2019. The uplift to the currency
from rate dynamics could fade, however, with the central bank likely to then pause to assess the impact on elevated
household indebtedness.

British pound – All about Brexit

The British pound appears poised to take guidance from the evolving relationship between the UK and the EU in 2019.
In our view, pragmatism will prevail with a Brexit deal being reached across the parties. However, lingering
uncertainty around the future trading relationship through the planned transition period is likely to keep the
pound at depressed levels throughout the year.

Japanese yen – Pressure may prevail

Domestic economic conditions and a cautious outlook from the Bank of Japan suggest ultra-easy monetary policy could
persist in 2019. Accordingly, the yen is likely to take direction from external drivers. Notably, rising hedging
costs from relatively higher U.S. rates point to Japanese investors further rolling off currency hedges, and in
turn, dampening demand for the Japanese yen in 2019.

Note: Data in the equity section reflects forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios based on
Bloomberg consensus earnings forecasts for the next 12 months. Data as of 11/15/18.

Non-U.S. Analyst Disclosure: Christopher Girdler, and Patrick McAllister,
employees of RBC Wealth Management USA’s foreign affiliate RBC Dominion Securities Inc.; and
Frédérique Carrier, Laura Cooper, and Alastair Whitfield, employees of RBC Wealth Management
USA’s foreign affiliate Royal Bank of Canada Investment Management (U.K.) Limited; Jay Roberts, an employee
of RBC Investment Services (Asia) Limited; Chun-Him Tam, an employee of Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch;
contributed to the preparation of this publication. These individuals are not registered with or qualified as
research analysts with the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and, since they are
not associated persons of RBC Wealth Management, they may not be subject to FINRA Rule 2241 governing
communications with subject companies, the making of public appearances, and the trading of securities in accounts
held by research analysts.

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